“All right.” Lauren dried her palm on her faded jeans. She opened the box and tossed aside the crumpled packing paper. An exhale filled with relief and a tinge of disappointment blew out. What had she expected to find? “Sleeping bags.” She handed the two rolled bundles to Reid.
He peeked into the box. “Pots and pans. Folding shovel. Tent pegs. Looks like camping gear.”
She looked through it. “It’s all brand new.”
“Donate or keep?” He held up a black marker.
Seduction wouldn’t keep Reid from leaving. In a few days, he’d hike into the woods. Staying under the radar would mean spending nights outdoors. He wouldn’t take money, but this wasn’t charity. She’d broach the subject later. “Keep.”
He marked the box. “Are you keeping the pots and pans, too?”
“Why?”
He grinned. “Oh nothing. Just didn’t see you as the cooking over the campfire type.”
“What? You don’t think I can cook? I happen to make the best camp stove oatmeal. I also make a kickass marinade for barbecue.” He didn’t look convinced.
“What?” He raised a brow. “I believe you.”
“Uh-huh.” She whacked him.
“Ow.” He rotated his shoulder. Hard muscle flexed underneath his shirt as he mocked pain. “I think you broke something.”
“Stop whining and move the box.”
“Are you always this bossy?”
“You weren’t complaining this morning.”
“And I won’t complain later.” He winked and gave her a sexy smile.
Her worn T-shirt grew overly warm. Later. Anticipation loosed flutters. Sex brain. She couldn’t stand next to him without wanting to take off her clothes and strip off his.
They unpacked more boxes. One had books. “Missing Link. Silent Scream.”
Reid looked up. “What did you say?”
“I was just reading the titles of the books. My dad and I both liked mysteries and thrillers. He’d send me some of his favorites from his collection. I’d send him a few of mine.” She picked up another. The corners of some of the pages were creased. Her father’s way of bookmarking his spot.
Reid stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You and your dad sharing a love of books. That’s a wonderful memory to hold onto.”
She settled back, relishing his strength and the comfort of having him to lean on. “We lost touch when I was growing up. Reading was the one thing that helped us reestablish a relationship.”
He kissed her temple. “Are you sure you don’t want them?”
Keeping them would bring good memories, but she could have that every time she picked out a new book, too. “Maybe I’ll keep a few.”
She sorted through and took out ones that interested her.
Reid placed the remainder in the corner designated for donations.
Sadness mixed with nostalgia crushed in. If her father hadn’t chosen the army first for so many years, they could have connected sooner. Stop. Bursting into tears wasn’t fair to Reid. He’d signed up to help her get the job done, not watch her cry.
“We need music.” She snagged her phone from the top of a box and pulled up her playlist of rock and pop classics.
A song by Aerosmith filled the silence.
Reid sang along, not missing a word. He had a great voice and even kept in tune on the higher notes.
The next song caused him to break into air guitar mode. Even clowning around, he looked like a natural.
He pantomimed intense facial expressions as if he were really into the music.
A laugh spilled out of her, lifting a heavy weight. She pretended to be a fan and cheered.
The song switched to a love ballad. He pulled her away from opening a box and maneuvered her into slow dance position.
The smooth, velvety tones of his voice filled the loft.
She laid her head on his shoulder and followed his lead into an easy sway. It felt good in his arms. Everything about him felt familiar and right. They even fit perfectly in bed. No first timer’s awkwardness in falling asleep together. It was almost if they’d done it before. He even knew which side of the mattress she preferred.
Just her luck. The one time she really wanted to keep seeing a guy, she couldn’t. But how selfish could she be? His problems trumped starting a relationship. She’d go crazy if she couldn’t remember her past and the people she loved. Something had to jar his memory. Lauren traced over his shoulder. People got tattoos for personal reasons. It had to have meaning.
Reid stroked up and down her back. “What are you thinking about?”
“Your dragon tat. It’s pretty distinctive. Could you be a musician?” With his gorgeous looks, if he were on stage, women would throw themselves at him.
“You mean like in a band?” He chuckled. “Singing feels natural to me, but so does dancing with you.”